(670 The Score) Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has no doubt that newly promoted 21-year-old outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong can have a meaningful impact for the club in its playoff push.
“Just freakish athleticism, and the energy level is really exciting to have around,” Hoerner said on the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Tuesday. “I think that’s a big way he can impact the group, just being a spark. He also just has a nice combination of confidence in how he carries himself but also wanting to learn, which is kind of all you can ask for.
“He knows he brings some pretty special skills to the table but also has a lot to learn, and that’s a good combo.”
The Cubs promoted Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, and he made his MLB debut in a 5-4 win against the Rockies at Coors Field in the evening. Crow-Armstrong was inserted as a pinch-runner in the seventh inning and stayed on to play defense in center field. Crow-Armstrong also laid down a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning after the Cubs plated the tying and go-ahead runs.
“He’s just really, really impressive,” Hoerner said. “Hitting at the upper levels (of the minor leagues) with that consistency is a great, great sign for his career. Because I see him as a guy that’s going to be incredibly valuable, even if it’s just a league-average hitter or whatever. But I don’t think that’s at all what he’s going to be. As he continues to spend time with the staff and learns things on the baserunning side too, obviously he has huge upside there. So if you got the potential for a guy that’s in the lineup every day that’s exceptional in parts of the game and above-average in every single way – that’s a real star player. I think he’s going to be able to impact our team winning immediately right now in whatever role he has, but obviously the future for him, you talk about ceilings, there really isn’t a ceiling. It’s whatever he wants to be and how he’s going to take it. It’s just incredibly exciting to be able to watch that for years to come hopefully.”
Entering play Tuesday, the Cubs sit in second place in the NL Central, three games behind the Brewers. They also hold the second of the three NL wild-card spots. The Cubs visit the Rockies on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 7:40 p.m. CT. Pregame coverage on 670 The Score will begin at 7:05 p.m.